Method of and apparatus for handling coiled metal strip



METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING COILED METAL STRIP Filed June 10, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

\ IN VENTOR MAURICE P. SIEGER HIS ATTORNEY July 31, 1956 SIEGER 2,756,943

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING COILED METAL STRIP Filed June 10, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4 INVENTOR MHU ICE P. SIEGER IS HTTORNE Y M. P. SIEGER July 31, 1956 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING COILED METAL STRIP 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 10, 1953 INVENTOR MHURICE p. SIEGER BY HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING COILED METAL STRIP Maurice P. Sieger, Mount Lebanon, Pa., assignor to United Engineering and Foundry Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 10, 1953, Serial No. 360,731

Claims. (Cl. 242-79) This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for handling and uncoiling coiled metal strip and in particular is directed to the continuous feeding of a plurality of coils to a metal working or strip processing apparatus such as a rolling mill and the like.

In order to eliminate the delays in the successive feeding of coils to a rolling mill, for example, which delay represents a loss in production, considerable effort has been expended heretofore in attempts to effect suitable mechanism for feeding and uncoiling a plurality of coils for continuous processing but such mechanisms have not given completely satisfactory results inasmuch as the loss of time in setting up each coil for uncoiling and processing is still a material factor. Not only does this invention obviate the difiiculties experienced heretofore, but by use of this invention much larger diameter coils may be handled inasmuch as uncoiling of the strip takes place in two stages, the first being performed in that portion of the apparatus capable of handling very large diameter coils and in which partial uncoiling, to reduce the size of the coil, is effected, and the second being performed in another portion of the apparatus to carry out the uncoiling operation to completion.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide apparatus for eliminating substantially the loss in time in the feeding of a plurality of coils into processing apparatus by placing the leading end of one coil in such a position as to closely follow the trailing end of a preceding coil as the latter is being fed into the processing apparatus.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus which will uncoil a coil of strip material in a two-stage continuous operation thereby making it possible for the uncoiling and handling of very large coils.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus which will be completely automatic and in which the continuous feeding of a plurality of coils to a metal working device will be more positive and time-saving over means previously employed for this purpose.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus which is efficient and dependable in operation and which will relieve the operator of all manual operations usually necessary in positioning and feeding the coils.

These objects, as well as the various other novel features and advantages of this invention, will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the center of the apparatus showing the relationship of the stations and the combination of elements as arranged in accordance with this invention, and

Figures 2 through 7 illustrate the steps of passing the coil through the various stations defined therein for feeding into the processing unit of which:

Figure 2 shows a coil at the storage station;

Figure 3 shows a coil after it has been advanced to the coil rotating second station;

Figure 4 shows a coil resting on rotatable rolls at the second station;

Figure 5 shows a coil at the third station and engaged by the magnet;

Figure 6 shows the leading end of the coil at the fifth station in position to enter a mill, and

Figure 7 shows the condition after the partially unwound coil has been transferred from the third to the fourth station and 'a new coil has entered the uncoiler of the third station, the leading end portion of the new coil having been passed through the open pinch roll of the fifth station from where it will be fed by closing of the pinch rolls immediately after the trailing end of the first coil has passed this station.

With reference to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown an inclined entry ramp 10 upon which there may be stored a plurality of coils and from which coils are drawn successively for processing in strip form. This constitutes the first or storage station A. At the lower end of ramp 10 there is provided a pivotal stop 11 connected to and operated by a piston-cylinder assembly 9 for preventing the coils from moving therebeyond prior to delivery to a coil rotating rig 12, which constitutes a second station B. The rotating rig 12 is arranged adjacent the entry ramp 10 and is adapted to receive a coil therefrom and upon which the coil may be rotated by two rotatable rolls 13 and 14, at least one of which is driven by a conventional means not shown. The roll 13 is supported in suitable bearings in the frame 8 and the roll 14 upon a segmental gear 15 which pivots about and is supported upon the shaft of roll 13. The segmental gear is rotated by a pinion 16 driven through the agency of a conventional drive (not shown). Rotation of the'segment 15 causes the roll 14 to pivot about and attain a higher elevation than roll 13 thereby to discharge a coil from the rolls 13 and 14 at the second station B.

In order to stop and prevent a coil from moving beyond the rig 12 until the apparatus is prepared to receive it, there is provided a coil stop 17 arranged adjacent to the second station which is adapted to intercept and stop the coil so as to position it on the rolls 13 and 14. The coil stop 17 is raised and lowered by means of a connecting arm 18 and a piston-cylinder assembly 19. Positioned between the rolls 13 and 14 there is provided an electromagnet 21 adapted to be adjusted vertically by means of a jack 22 through means of the connecting link 23. The magnet is of sufficient length to accommodate the widest strip the processing device is capable of handling and although not shown, as such is deemed to be unnecessary for the purpose of illustrating this invention, a suitable circuit including lead wires 20 may be employed for supplying current thereto.

Adjacent to the second station B there is arranged the third station C which consists generally of a reversible cone type uncoiler 24 in which there are provided coil end engaging cones 25 adapted to engage with the opposite ends of a coil for supporting and rotating it and for which the uncoiler is provided with transverse adjustment means so that the cones may be engaged with coils of diiferent widths. By this arrangement of stations B and C, it will be apparent to those familiar with the art that on energization of the magnet 21 to grip the end of the coil, followed by the advance of the coil from station B to C, a portion of the leading end of the strip will be stripped off the main body of the coil as determined by the distance between the two stations. It is to be understood that the uncoiler is symmetrical about its center and that the driving means thereof while not shown may be of any conventional type permitting rotation of a coil in either direction. In order to position a coil so that the axis thereof will correspond to the axes of the uncoiler cones an hydraulic lift 26 is provided beneath the uncoiler, being adapted to receive a coil from station B and to raise it to the proper position by means of a vertically disposed piston-cylinder assembly 30. For the purpose of maintaining the convolutions tightly wound upon the coil and to aid in the feeding forward of the leading end thereof, a lever arm 27 is provided which is mounted on the uncoiler frame 23 and rotated by means of a shaft 29 connected to a drive not shown. On the outer end of arm 27 there is a rotatable element 31 which, when the arm is swung downwardly, engages with the periphery of the coil when in the uncoiler 28 at the third station C. As a precautionary measure, the arm 27 and stop 11 are electrically connected so that stop 11 is not permitted to discharge a coil into the second or B station until arm 27 is retracted from the downward coil engaging position. Intermediate the stations A and B there is arranged a pivotal guide 32 one end of. which rests on the curved surface of coil stop 17 and as the stop is lowered the guide 32 is lowered therewith to a substantially horizontal position to support a coil advancing from the one station to the other.

Adjacent the third station C there is a fourth station D comprised of a coil box 33, employing in its construction a pair of rotating side guides 34 which are traversely adjustable to accommodate coils of different widths and a plurality of freely rotatable cradle rolls 35, 36 and 37 supported in a frame 40. The rolls are so arranged that rolls 35 prevent the coil from passing beyond the coil box, rolls 36 support the coil for rotation and rolls 37, on the top of the coil box, aid not only in rotating the coil at such time that the coil, by reason of its reduced size and weight, may be pulled upward by the mill tension and lifted momentarily from the rolls 3% and into contact with the rolls 37 but the first of the two rolls 37 serves also as a deflector roll for the strip passing thereover.

Above the coil box 33 there is arranged a pinch roll unit 38 which is referred to as the fifth or E station for feeding the end of a coil to the mill. The pinch roll unit is provided with a pair of rolls 39 and 41 at least one of which is driven. It is a feature of the pinch roll unit that the roll 39 may be raised and lowered out of and into engagement with the strip as it passes over the lower roll 41.

Between Stations C and E there is provided a retractable guide 42 for assisting in feeding the strip end to the pinch roll unit 38. This guide may be adjusted vertically, by means of a piston-cylinder assembly 43, to accommodate the various diameters of the coils being handled. The guide includes two adjustable laterally spaced portions adapted to engage the strip from both sides so that when a coil is to be transferred from station C to station D the guide portions are moved outward to free the strip in order to permit the coil to move to its new position at station D. Additional guides are provided as may be necessary for guiding the strip between the pinch roll unit 38 and strip processing apparatus as, for example, a rolling mill M.

It can be readily seen that as each respective station is arranged at a slightly lower elevation than the preceding one, the coil will be assisted by gravity as it is transferred from one station to the next succeeding one. For advancing the coil from station C to station D the pull of the mill will also assist in carrying out the transfer.

The operation of the present invention may be briefly summarized as follows: A coil, with the convolutions thereof in a counter-clockwise direction, is deposited on the coil ramp 14) of the station A, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and rolled down to the coil stop 11. By lowering the coil stop ill the coil is permitted to pass into the second station B and against coil stop 17 previously raised to intercept the coil as shown in Figure 3. As soon as a coil is passed from the ramp it), the stop 11 is immediately raised and a succeeding coil permitted to roll down into stopped engagement therewith. When the coil has come to rest on the rig 12, the stop 17 is lowered and the coil is permitted to settle on the rotatable rolls 13 and 14 as viewed in Figure 4. it will be noted that guide 32 has lowered itself, with the lowering of the stop 17, into a substantially horizontal position. Once the coil is settled on rolls 13 and 14, the coil is rotated whereby the leading end is positioned between the two rolls and directly above the electromagnet 21. The magnet is then raised and energized to engage the end portion of the coil. By means of the pinion l6 and gear segment 15, roll 14 of the rig 12 is pivoted about roll 13 to discharge the coil to the lift 26 at the third station C, thereby stripping the leading end from the coil. The stripping effect is sufficient to bend the strip beyond its elastic limit thereby placing a permanent set in the stripped of? ortion.

Before the lift 26 is raised to position the coil in axial alignment with the uncoiier cones 25, the electromagnet 21 is deenergized thereby releasing the strip end therefrom, permitting the strip to swing upward to an extent depending upon its resiliency. On raising the coil and engaging it between the uncoiler cones the cones are rotated clockwise to rewrap the loose strip end back upon the coil while at the same time engaging the coil surface with the roller 31 to press the coil convolutions into close coil contact and to retain the bent out end portion against the main body. Clockwise rotation of the uncoiler ceases as soon as the coil leading end is at the top of the coil and in such a position with respect to the closed guide 42 that the coil leading end may be readily directed into the guide 42 on counterclockwise rotation of the coil. The uncoiler 24 is rotated counterclockwise to direct the leading end of the strip through the guide 42 and between the opened pinch rolls 39 and 41. The top roll is then lowered to grip the strip as shown in Figure 6 and the pinch rolls rotated to feed the strip into a mill or other strip propelling apparatus. As soon as the strip is gripped and pulled by the working rolls of the mill M, the pinch rolls of unit 38 are separated. The lever arm 27 also is retracted to its position shown in Figure l and the stop 11 lowered so as to allow another coil to be advanced to the second station B.

After a substantial portion of the strip has been uncoiled from the coil at the third station C, the guides 42 are withdrawn from engagement with the strip and the cones 25 are disengaged from the coil by transversely retracting them. The coil is then permitted to roll forward to the coil box 33 at fourth station D, being assisted in its movement by the pull of the mill. The rotatable side guards 34 are then set transversely depending upon the width of the coil to confine the edges of the coil during the completion of the uncoiling operation. As shown in Figure 7 sufiicient strip remains on the coil for processing when it passes into the fourth station D to allow sufficient time to permit a new coil to be brought up to the third station C, in which the initial stripping of the leading end has been performed as in the foregoing operation, and the leading end of the second coil entered into the fifth station E between the open pinch rolls of unit 38 and above the strip of the previous coil which is directed over the roll 41, now serving as a deflector roll, on the strips passage to the processing apparatus.

It can readily be seen that the present invention provides a method of and apparatus for completely handling and'feeding automatically a plurality of coils in succession in such a manner that there is no loss of time between the feeding of two successive coils. Although a rolling mill is illustrated as being the processing apparatus employed in conjunction with this invention, it is obvious that the coil handling and feeding apparatus as disclosed herein may be employed with any other type of strip processing apparatus where continuity of operation is highly desirable.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I consider to represent the best embodiment thereof. However, I desire to have it understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. In the method of handling and uncoiling a coil of strip material for directing into strip self-advancing processing apparatus in which there are'included in sequence a coil storage first station, a coil receiving, rotating and strip end engaging second station, a coil surface engaging, recoiling and uncoiling third station, a coil uncoiling fourth station, and a strip engaging and advancing fifth station the steps comprising passing a coil from said first station to said second station and engaging the outer end thereof, passing the coil to the third station thereby stripping the end therefrom, releasing the coil end and rotating the coil in a direction again to rewind the strip end thereon while engaging the coil surface to prevent opening up of the convolutions of said coil, rotating the coil in the opposite direction to pass the strip end to and for engagement of said fifth station and uncoiling a substantial portion thereof to reduce the size of the coil and then passing the reduced coil to the fourth station to uncoil the remainder of the material therefrom.

2. In the method of handling and uncoiling a coil of strip material for directing into strip self-advancing processing apparatus in which there are included in sequence a coil storage first station, a coil receiving, rotating and strip end engaging second station, a coil surface engaging, recoiling and uncoiling third station, a coil uncoiling fourth station, and a strip engaging and advancing fifth station adjacent to said fourth station the steps comprising passing a coil from said first station to said second station and engaging the outer end thereof, passing the coil to the third station thereby stripping the end therefrom, releasing the coil end and rotating the coil in a direction again to rewind the strip end thereon while engaging the coil surface to prevent opening up of the convolutions of said coil, rotating the coil in the opposite direction to pass the strip end to and for engagement at said fifth station thereby to uncoil a length of material at least sufficient to enter said strip self-advancing processing apparatus, releasing said strip at said fifth station and continuing the uncoiling thereof substantially to reduce the size of the coil and then passing the reduced coil to the fourth station to uncoil the remainder of the material therefrom and, while the coil is being unwound at said fourth station, repeating the initial steps of the foregoing operations to position a second coil in said uncoiling third station and directing the leading end thereof to said fifth station in readiness to be engaged and advanced on completion of the unwinding of the previous coil.

3. In the method of handling and uncoiling a coil of strip material for directing into strip self-advancing processing apparatus in which there are included in sequence a coil storage first station, a coil receiving, rotating and strip end engaging second station, a coil surface engaging, recoiling and uncoiling third station, a coil uncoiling fourth station, and a strip engaging and advancing fifth station the steps comprising passing a coil from said first station to said second station, positioning the coil and engaging the outer end thereof, passing the coil to the third station While the end thereof is held at said second station thereby stripping the end therefrom, releasing the coil end and rotating the coil in a direction again to rewind the strip end thereon while engaging the coil surface to prevent opening up of the convolutions of said coil, rotating the coil in the opposite direction to pass the strip end to and for engagement at said fifth station thereby to uncoil a length of material at least sufficient to enter said strip self-advancing processing ap aratus, releasing" said strip at said fifth station and continuing the uncoiling thereof substantially to reduce the size of the coil and then passing the reduced coil to the fourth station to uncoil the remainder of the material therefrom and, while the coil is being unwound in said fourth station, repeating the initial steps of the foregoing operations to position a second coil in said uncoiling third station and directing the leading end thereof to said fifth station in readiness to be engaged and advanced on completion of the unwinding of the previous coil.

4. In the method of handling and uncoiling a coil of strip material for directing into strip self-advancing processing apparatus in which there are included in sequence a coil storage first station, a coil receiving, rotating and strip end engaging second station, a coil surface engaging, recoiling and uncoiling third station, a coil uncoiling fourth station, and a strip engaging and advancing fifth station adjacent to said second uncoiling station all of said stations being so arranged that succeeding stations are at a lower level than those preceding for permitting a coil to gravitate from one station to the next, the steps comprising passing a coil from said first station to said second station, positioning the coil and engaging the outer end thereof, passing the coil to the third station while the end thereof is engaged at said second station thereby stripping the end therefrom, releasing the coil end and rotating the coil in a direction again to rewind the strip end thereon while engaging the coil surface to prevent opening up of the convolutions of said coil, rotating the coil in the opposite direction to pass the strip end to and for engagement at said fifth station thereby to uncoil a length of material at least sufficient to enter said strip self-advancing processing apparatus, releasing said strip at said fifth station and continuing the uncoiling thereof substantially to reduce the size of the coil and then passing the reduced coil to the fourth station to uncoil the remainder of the material therefrom' and, while the coil is being unwound in said fourth station, repeating the initial steps of the foregoing operations to position a second coil in said uncoiling third station and directing the leading end thereof to said fifth station in readiness to be engaged and advanced on completion of the unwinding of the previous coil.

5. In an apparatus for handling and uncoiling a coil of strip material the combination of a pair of rotatable rolls, at least one of which is driven, for receiving a coil thereon, a removable stop arranged adjacent said rolls to deliver a coil thereto, means adjacent said rolls adapted to be placed into engagement with the leading end of said coil, a reversible uncoiler adjacent said rolls, means for advancing to said uncoiler a coil positioned on said rolls, a coil surface-engaging means positioned adjacent said uncoiler adapted to engage the peripheral surface of the coil, a coil box arranged adjacent to said uncoiler for receiving a coil discharge from said uncoiler and strip advancing means adjacent said coil box for engaging and advancing the leading end of a coil supported by said uncoiler.

6. In an apparatus for handling and uncoiling a coil of strip material the combination of a coil storage and discharge ramp, a pair of rotatable rolls, at least one of which is driven, arranged adjacent said ramp, a removable stop arranged adjacent said rolls to deliver thereto a coil from said ramp, means adjacent said rolls adapted to be placed into engagement with the leading end of said coil, a reversible uncoiler adjacent said rolls, means adapted to advance to said uncoiler a coil positioned on said rolls, a coil surface-engaging means adjacent said uncoiler for engaging the peripheral surface of the coil, a coil box adjacent to and adapted to receive a coil from said uncoiler and strip advancing means adjacent said coil box for engaging and advancing the leading end of a coil supported by said uncoiler.

7. In an apparatus for handling and uncoiling a coil of strip material the combination of a coil storage and delivery ramp, a pair of rotatable rolls, at least one of which is driven, arranged adjacent said ramp and adapted to receive a coil therefrom, a removable stop arranged adjacent said rolls to position a coil discharged thereto from said ramp, means adjacent said rolls adapted to be placed into engagement With the leading end of said coil, a reversible uncoiler adjacent said rolls, one of said rotatable rolls adapted to be raised to advance to said uncoiler a coil positioned on said rolls, a coil surfaceengaging means positioned adjacent said uncoiler including a rotatable element adapted to be engaged With the peripheral surface of the coil, a coil box adjacent to and adapted to receive a partially payed-out coil from said uncoiler, strip advancing means adjacent to said coil box for advancing the leading end of a coil supported by said uncoiler, said advancing means adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from a strip passing therethrough.

8. In an apparatus for handling and uncoiling a coil of permeable strip material the combination of an inclined coil storage and delivery ramp, a pair of longitudinally spaced rotatable rolls, at least one of which is driven, arranged adjacent said ramp and adapted to receive a coil therefrom, a removable stop adjacent to said rolls to intercept and position a coil delivered thereto from said ramp, an electro-magnet arranged adjacent to said rolls adapted to be placed into engagement with the leading end of said coil, a reversible uncoiler, one of said rotatable rolls adapted to be raised to advance to said uncoiler a coil positioned on said rolls, elevating means beneath said uncoiler for receiving and positioning a coil within said uncoiler for paying out at least a portion of the coil, a coil surface-engaging means positioned adjacent said uncoiler including a rotatable element adapted to engage the peripheral surface of the coil, a coil box adjacent to and adapted to receive a partially payed-out coil from said uncoiler, strip advancing means arranged adjacent said coil box for receiving and advancing the leading end of a coil supported by said uncoiler, said advancing means adapted to be engaged With and disengaged from a strip passing therethrough.

9. In the method of handling and uncoiling a coil of strip material for directing the strip into stripself-advancing processing apparatus in which there are included in sequence a coil storage first station, a coil receiving, rotating and strip end engaging second station, a coil uncoiling third station, a coil uncoiling fourth station, and a strip engaging and advancing fifth station the steps comprising passing a coil from said first station to said second station and engaging the outer end thereof, passing the coil to the third station thereby stripping the end therefrom, releasing the coil end, rotating the coil While at said third station in a direction to pass the strip end to and for engagement at said fifth station and uncoiling a substantial portion thereof to reduce the size of the coil and then, passing the reduced coil from the third to the fourth station to uncoil the remainder of the material therefrom.

10. In an apparatus for handling and uncoiling a coil of strip material the combination of a pair of rotatable rolls, at least one of which is driven, for receiving a coil thereon, a removable stop arranged adjacent said rolls to deliver a coil thereto, means adjacent said rolls adapted to be placed into engagement with the leading end of said coil, a reversible uncoiler adjacent to said rolls, means for advancing to said uncoiler a coil positioned on said rolls, a coil box arranged adjacent to said uncoiler for receiving a coil discharged from said uncoiler and strip advancing means adjacent to said coil box for engaging and advancing the leading end of a coil supported by said uncoiler.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,872,045 Smitmans Aug. 16, 1932 1,943,748 Talbot Jan. 16, 1934 2,485,961 Duby Oct. 25, 1949 

